Dartmoor is an upland region of moorland in the county of Devon, in the southwest of England. It covers approximately 368 square miles, and rises to 621m (2037 ft) above sea level. Underlying the moor is Carboniferous granite, which is visible at the surface as tors - rocky outcrops at the summits of many of the hills.
The Moor was designated a National Park in 1951. Nearly 36000 hectares (88900 acres) of the Park is common land, some 37% of the Park's whole area and more than 75% of its moorland. Importantly, the commons form the heartland of Dartmoor and that vast open space which is the main reason for its National Park status.
Under the Dartmoor Commons Act (1985), the Commoners' Council is elected to represent the commoners, make regulations about most matters affecting the management of the commons and the welfare of stock on the commons, and to enforce the Dartmoor Commoners' Council Regulations.
